We are going on our first ever cruise on the epic in September. I'm getting conflicting info. If an American citizen and going on a cruise leaving from Miami , stopping in Mexico and then back to Miami do I need a passport???

Technically, no. It's called the closed loop rule. If you are leaving from a U.S. port and returning to the same port a passport isn't needed. However; if you should have a medical emergency in Mexico and need to fly back to the U.S., then you would need a passport. We highly recommend everyone get a passport.

As stated, you legally don't need a passport, since it's a closed loop cruise. You will need however, photo ID and proof of citizenship. Your passport satisfies both of those requirements. Otherwise you need your driver's license (photo ID), and birth certificate (proof of citizenship).